Projects in Townsville and Blackwater are among the key winners in the Australian Institute of Architects’ Queensland State Architecture Awards this year. Liquid Blu’s work on the Blackwater Aquatic Centre earned the Public Architecture F.D.G. Stanley Award, with the jury noting that the centre responded sensitively to the climate and its rural context, making a positive contribution to the community. Central Highlands Regional Council chief executive officer Scott Mason said the accolades the facility had drawn were a credit to everyone involved in its planning, design, construction and operation. Last year, the centre took out the award for Design and Construction of Public Works Projects over $10 million at the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia, Queensland Excellence Awards. Contractors Hutchinson Builders earned recognition for their role in the project at the Central Queensland Master Builder Awards, taking awards for Central Queensland Project of the Year, as well as Sporting Facilities and Commercial Building up to $5 million. Meanwhile Townsville’s The Science Place at James Cook University was honoured at the Queensland State Architecture Awards with the Jennifer Taylor Award for educational architecture. The Townsville Courts of Law – Edmund Sheppard Building won the Robin Gibson Award for enduring architecture. Seventy-eight projects shortlisted for the state honours this year, some in multiple categories. The Australian Institute of Architects said the highlight from this year’s judging was the exceptional quality of innovative projects emerging in Queensland’s regional communities. Projects that received a state award are now in the running for the National Architecture Awards to be announced in November. Full list of winners: Commercial Architecture Beatrice Hutton Award – The Stores, Cavill Architects in Association with Jasper Brown Architects Award – Robina Market Hall Redevelopment, The Buchan Group Commendation – 88 Limestone, Gibson Architects Educational Architecture Jennifer Taylor Award – The Science Place HASSELL Award – The Centenary Library, Anglican Church Grammar School, Brand + Slater Architects Pty Ltd Award – The Springfield Anglican College – Year 1 Classrooms, Architecture Kōen Commendation – Griffith University Aquatic Centre, Conrad Gargett Commendation – JK Murray Library Extension & Refurbishment, dwp | design worldwide partnership Enduring Architecture Robin Gibson Award – Townsville Courts of Law – Edmund Sheppard Building Hall, Phillips & Wilson Architects Heritage Commendation – 259 Queen Street Main Lobby Refurbishment, Cox Architecture + Ruth Woods Architect Interior Architecture GHM Addison Award – Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, BVN Award – Headricks Lane, SP Studio Award – Marchetti & Optiko, Cameron & Co Commendation – 1 William Street, Woods Bagot Commendation – NAB Place, Woods Bagot Public Architecture FDG Stanley Award – Blackwater Aquatic Centre, Liquid Blu Architects Award – Curra Community Hall, Bark Design Architects Award – Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre, Bud Brannigan Architects Commendation: Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, BVN Commendation: Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Guymer Bailey Architects Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) Elina Mottram Award – Gibbon St, Cavill Architects Award – Camp Hill Cottage, Owen Architecture Award – One Room Tower, phorm architecture + design with Silvia Micheli & Antony Moulis Award – Yeronga House, Tim Bennetton Architects Commendation – Milton Residence, m3architecture Commendation – Yarrawonga, Counterpoint Architecture Residential Architecture – Houses (New) Robin Dods Award – Stradbroke House, Tim Bennetton Architects with Gabriel Poole Award – Carpenter-Hall House, Russell Hall Architects P/L Award – Tarragindi Steel House, Bligh Graham Architects Award – V House, Shaun Lockyer Architects Commendation – Avonlea, Robinson Architects Commendation – tinbeerwah house, teeland architects Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing Job & Froud Award – M3565 Main Beach, Virginia Kerridge Architect Award – Abian, Wood Marsh Architecture with Sunland Group Award – Oxley + Stirling, Elenberg Fraser Award – Spire Residences, John Wardle Architects Commendation – Kailani Beach Houses, Andrew Bock Architecture Small Project Architecture Hayes & Scott Award – Northshore Pavilion, Anna O’Gorman Architect Award – Ryan Street Library, Jonathan Goh Architect Commendation – Dinosaur Canyon Outpost, Cox Architecture Commendation – UQ Architecture School Entry, m3architecture Sustainable Architecture Harry Marks Award – Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Guymer Bailey Architects Award – Blackwater Aquatic Centre, Liquid Blu Architects Award – The Science Place, HASSELL Commendation – Yeronga House, Tim Bennetton Architects Urban Design Karl Langer Award – Parklands, AAA – Arkhefield, ARM and Archipelago Architects Award – Beerwah Tower Green, Bark Design Architects Commendation – Centenary Lakes Nature Play, PAWA Architecture + LandPlan Commendation – The Link, Lat27 COLORBOND® Award – Gold Coast Sports Precinct, BVN Art & Architecture The Australian Institute of Architects Art & Architecture Prize (Qld) – Corps a’ Corps at the IMA Coutyard, Artist: Celine Condorelli, Architect: Dirk Yates (Speculative Architecture), Landscape Designer: Pete Shields